CPU adapter for a motherboard test machine

ABSTRACT

A CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine installed in a test machine of a motherboard to be tested. The CPU adapter is capable of combined with the CPU and coupled to the motherboard to be tested while testing. The circuit design of the CPU adapter can enhance the signals of the CPU and widen the clock thereof. The signals of the CPU can be transmitted to the motherboard to be tested correctly. Instead of insertion and removal of the CPU by manpower, it can thus accelerate the testing speed, lower the hazard of damaging the computer component, and decrease the demand for test tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application incorporates by reference Taiwan patent application Ser. No. 89211178, filed on Jun. 6, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates in general to an adapter for a computer component of a motherboard test machine, and more particularly to a CPU adapter of the motherboard test machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] The Computer has become widely used in modem life. The demand of the computer is increasing nowadays due to its diversity and various applications. The objective is to provide users with high quality products. Hence, the quality control and tests for products play important roles in the mass production.

[0004] From now on, most manufacturers use the test machine to test their new produced components or devices. Take the motherboard for example, the motherboard is first placed on the test machine and linked to the computer components, such like peripheral equipment, apparatus, interface card and so forth. Then the test machine starts up and detects the motherboard circuitry. The period of the testing directly influences the time of product marketing. Analyzing the forgoing test procedures, it takes a lot of time to insert and remove the peripheral equipment, apparatus, interface card, and so forth. Those steps, as described above, are carried through by manpower formally. It wastes time to assemble the test machine whenever preparing to test a motherboard. It might causes the connecting pins crooked and even snapped due to the man-made negligence and frequent insertion and removal of the computer components. Therefore, by way of using probes to connect the computer components can reduce the manpower, improve the testing efficiency and lower the component consumption rate.

[0005] Conventionally, a test machine includes a function test box, a carrier and a shingle. A probe load board upon the function test box has a number of probes on its surface. The carrier above the function test box has a number of guide holes and is capable of carrying a motherboard to be tested. The locations of the guide holes, probes and pins on the bottom of the motherboard to be tested are interrelated. While the carrier moves downward, the probes insert into the guide holes exactly and connect to the pins of the motherboard to be tested. The shingle above the carrier has a number of press sticks on its bottom surface wherein the press sticks are capable of fixing the motherboard to be tested on the carrier. Before testing, the computer components, such like the peripheral equipment, apparatus, and interface card, are assembled in the function test box beforehand. The function test box then couples the pins of those components to the probes on the probe load board.

[0006] In the beginning of the testing, the motherboard to be tested is placed on the carrier, the shingle and the carrier move downward. The probes then insert into the guide holes of the carrier exactly and are coupled to the pins on the bottom surface of the motherboard to be tested. Thereafter, the test machine proceeds to test electronically. After finishing the test, the shingle and the carrier are uplifted and another motherboard to be tested is substituted in the next test. It improves the speed of test by utilizing the probes as compared to working by human labor to insert and remove the computer components.

[0007] However, utilizing the probes to connect the motherboard to be tested and the apparatus is suitable for the low-frequency apparatus, such like the disk drive, keyboard, mouse and so on. If the computer component is high frequency, such like the Central Processing Unit (CPU), graphic card, Random Access Memory (RAM), it might cause two problems, which are as follows:

[0008] First, the high-frequency signals are prone to diminish due to the impedance of the probes.

[0009] Second, the high-frequency signals are prone to cause the timing disordering due to the improper matching about the impedance of the probes.

[0010] Therefore, the CPU (or other high-frequency apparatus) still has to be inserted and removed by manpower. It is not only time-consuming but also damaging to the pins of the CPU (or other high-frequency apparatus) and then increases the cost of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine. The CPU is plugged in the socket of the device. A revolving board of the device is coupled to the pins of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to be tested. It can prevent the signals of the CPU from diminishing by means of the circuit design of the revolving board and keep the timing regular. Thus, it can save time to insert and remove the apparatus by manpower, lower the hazard of damaging the computer component and decrease the demand for test tools, such like CPU.

[0012] The invention achieves the above-identified objects by providing a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine installed in a test machine of a motherboard to be tested. The CPU adapter includes a revolving board and a number of probes wherein the revolving board is combined with a CPU and capable of widening the clock of the CPU by a widening clock circuit. The probes disposed on and coupled to the revolving board are capable of being coupled to the pins of the motherboard to be tested. The CPU adapter further includes a number of probe-receptacles and a mounting board. The probe-receptacles disposed on and coupled to the revolving board and the probes inserted therein. The mounting board under the revolving board are capable of fixing the probe-receptacles for not slanting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a front view of a motherboard test machine;

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a test machine shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the structure of a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine according to a preferred embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2;

[0017]FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the structure of a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine according to another preferred embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a motherboard to be tested disposed in the fix position for testing shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring first to FIG. 1, a front view of a motherboard test machine is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier 107 and the shingle 109 under the test-tool box 101 of the test machine are constructed in the function test box 101 by means of moving ups and downs. The press sticks 111 underneath the shingle 109 can fix the motherboard to be tested 113 while the shingle 109 moves downward to the fix position. The carrier 107 capable of carrying the motherboard to be tested 113 has guide holes (not shown in the FIGS.) located opposite to the pins on the bottom surface of the motherboard to be tested 103. The probe load board 103 upon the function test box 101 has probes 105 located opposite to the guide holes on the carrier 107. While the carrier moves downward, the probes 105 insert into the guide holes of the carrier 107 exactly and are coupled to the pins of the motherboard to be tested 103. Before testing, the computer components, such like the peripheral equipment, apparatus, and interface card (not shown in the FIGS.), are assembled in the function test box 105 beforehand. The function test box 101 then couples the pins of those components to the probes 105 on the probe load board 103.

[0020] Please refer to FIG. 2 for the plug-in location of the CPU. A perspective view of a test machine shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU adapter 200 on the bottom surface of the probe load board 103 is capable of coupled to the CPU 205 and the motherboard to be tested 113. Please also refer to the FIG. 3. A front view of the structure of a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine according to a preferred embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The CPU adapter 200 includes a revolving board 201, a number of probe-receptacles 301 and a number of probes wherein the revolving board 201 includes a socket 203 for connecting to the CPU 205. The probe-receptacles 301 are on the revolving board 201 and the probes insert within them. The probes 303 capable of connecting to the pins of the bottom surface of the motherboard to be tested 113 are coupled to the probe-receptacles 301 and the revolving board 201. The CPU adapter 200 further includes a mounting board 305 for fixing the probe-receptacles wherein the probe-receptacles 301 can pierce though the mounting board 305. By this way, the probes 303 can be coupled to the pins of the motherboard to be tested 113 precisely.

[0021] Since the CPU 205 is coupled to the pins of the motherboard to be tested 113, it might cause the signals diminishing and the timing disordering and make the system malfunction. Thus, the circuit design on the revolving board 201 is used for improving the above-mentioned defects. The revolving board 201 further includes a electrolysis capacitance and a clock widen circuit (referring to the APPENDIX FIG. 1 to APPENDIX FIG. 4). The electrolysis capacitance provides a power supply for enhancing the signals of the CPU 205. And the revolving board 201 widen the clock of the CPU 205 by using the clock widen circuit. Hence, the signals of the CPU 205 can keep the signals and timing regular.

[0022] Moreover, considering that the CPU adapter in FIG. 3 occupies more space than the CPU adapter in FIG. 4. A front view of the structure of a CPU adapter of a motherboard test machine according to another preferred embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The CPU adapter 200 includes a revolving board 21, a number of probe-receptacles 401, a number of probes, a socket 205, and a mounting board 405. The circuit design and the connecting correlation thereof are as mentioned above except that the location of the probes 403 is directly opposite to that of the pins of the CPU 205 for the sake of sparing the space. In order to prevent the probe-receptacles 401 from conflicting with the pins of CPU 205 about the location, the CPU adapter 200 further concludes a revolving board 407 and a number of probes 409. The revolving board 407 for connecting with the probe-receptacles 401 is coupled to the revolving board 201 by the probes. The location of the probes 409 should avoid conflict to that of the pins of the socket 203.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, a front view of a motherboard to be tested disposed in the fix position for testing shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated. After the motherboard to be tested 113 is placed on the fix position, the shingle 109 and carrier 107 move downward and arrive the fix position for testing, the probes 105 and the probes 303 of the CPU adapter 200 insert into the guide holes of the carrier 107 exactly and connect to the corresponding pins on the bottom surface of the motherboard to be tested 113. Thereafter, the test machine proceeds to test the circuitry. After finishing the test, the shingle 309 and the carrier 307 are uplifted and another motherboard to be tested is substituted in the next test.

[0024] In accordance with the above-mentioned preferred embodiment of the invention, the adapter is not only for CPU but also for any other high-frequency components, such like graphic cards, RAM, and so on.

[0025] The advantages of the CPU adapter of the motherboard test machine according to the disclosed embodiment are as follows:

[0026] First, shorten the test time and raise the producing rate: the CPU is plugged in the revolving board of the CPU adapter in the function test box beforehand. Instead of insertion and removal of the CPU by manpower, it requires to put the PCB to be tested in the function test box and proceeds the circuit testing.

[0027] Second, decrease the cost of testing: It used to cause the connecting pins of the CPU crooked and even snapped due to the man-made negligence and frequent insertion and removal of the computer components. The damage to the component increases the cost of testing. By way of using probes to connect the computer components according to this invention, it can lower the hazard of damaging the computer component and further decrease component consumption rate and the cost of testing.

[0028] Third, decrease the demand for test tools, such like CPU: It requires one CPU for one test machine instead of plugging one CPU in each motherboard to be tested. Therefore, it decreases the amount of test tools for usage.

[0029] While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for a high-frequency component of a test machine installed in a test machine of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to be tested, the adapter for the high-frequency component comprising: a revolving board for combining with the high-frequency component, capable of widening the clock of the high-frequency component by an widening clock circuit; and a plurality of probes disposed on and coupled to the revolving board, capable of being coupled to the pins of the PCB to be tested.
 2. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the adapter for high-frequency component further comprises a plurality of probe-receptacles, disposed on the revolving board and the probes inserted therein, coupling the probes to the revolving board.
 3. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 2, wherein the adapter for high-frequency component further comprises a mounting board under the revolving board, capable of fixing the probe-receptacles.
 4. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the revolving board further comprises a socket for connecting to the high-frequency component.
 5. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency component is a Central Processing Unit (CPU).
 6. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency component is a graphic card.
 7. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the high-frequency component is a Random Access Memory (RAM).
 8. The adapter for high-frequency component according to claim 1, wherein the revolving board further comprises a electrolysis capacitance for providing a power supply to enhance the signals of the CPU.
 9. A test machine of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with an exterior high-frequency component, capable of testing a PCB to be tested, the test machine comprising: a carrier for carrying the PCB to be tested, having a plurality of guide holes located opposite to the pins on the bottom surface of the PCB to be tested; a function test box under the carrier, wherein a probe load board is upon the function test box, and the probe load board comprises: a plurality of probes on the top surface, located opposite to the guide holes, capable of inserting into the guide holes and coupled to the pins of the PCB to be tested; and a revolving board on the bottom surface of the probe load board, combined with the high-frequency component and coupled to the probes, capable of widening the clock of the high-frequency component by a widening clock circuit; and a shingle above the carrier, capable of coupling the PCB to be tested to the probes.
 10. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the revolving board further comprises a socket for connecting to the high-frequency component.
 11. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the shingle further comprises a plurality of press sticks for fixing the PCB to be tested on the carrier and coupling the PCB to be tested to the probes.
 12. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the high-frequency component is a Central Processing Unit (CPU).
 13. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the high-frequency component is a graphic card.
 14. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the high-frequency component is a Random Access Memory (RAM).
 15. The test machine according to claim 9, wherein the revolving board further comprises a electrolysis capacitance for providing a power supply to enhance the signals of the high-frequency component. 